Pastors and politicians gathered at a breakfast in Boston today to commemorate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and challenge attendees to help realize King’s dream of a better society.

Governor Deval Patrick, who has been a fixture at the event during his tenure as a governor, praised the slain civil rights leader for bringing “love into public discourse” and commitment to public service.

“We could use more of Dr. King’s message right now,” said Patrick, noting that King believed everyone could serve their community in some way. “We could use more love in each of us for each of us.”

Roughly 800 people attended the breakfast at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, which has been held in Boston for 44 years and is the oldest event of its kind in the nation.